Mina is a girl's girl, and the more she shops, the more energetic she becomes. She was sullen when they walked into the first boutique, excited when they browsed the third, happy when they left the fifth, and ecstatic when they walked down an avenue of exclusivity and luxury.

As they tried to try on the clothes, Gwen couldn't resist competing with her cousin. It's vanity, of course, but it's also an instinctive reaction of women when they pick up each other in the locker room.

Her cousin is only 5 feet 4 inches tall, but she has a charmingly slender figure, which makes men want to hold her in their arms. Her cheeks are lovely, pink, with two dimples on either side, and a pair of dark almond-shaped eyes that sparkle jewelally over her milky complexion. Her bust was petite and petite, her waist was as slender as a snake, and from below her slender hips, a pair of slender legs stretched out and beautifully contoured, and finally a pair of slender little feet, white and well-proportioned.

Mr. Tao sat in the lounge with his mouth half-open, driven crazy with boredom, and next to him was a pseudonymous clerk who giggled at every word he said. At the same time, Gwen and Mina exchanged views on the merits of the accessory.

"I can't believe I'm talking about this......" Mina examined herself in the mirror, marveling at the straight-lace, knee-length jumpsuit. "But your taste is impeccable, how can it be? Is there even a Vinita or Valentino women's clothing in Sydney? Did you go to a fashion school?"

"Oh, no," Gwen admitted. "I do have some MIA clothes, but they were all imported from here and there. I bet she's going to lose a lot of money. ”

"Well, I'm going to wear this dress to the ball tonight, and you should pick something too, I've already said it's my gift to you. ”

"Of course, but not here. Gwen saw the price tag. The 7HDM company wasn't much to laugh at, it was almost half a month of training, or some useful consumables, or a dozen or so advanced healing potions.

"I'm going to wear this dress out," Mina told the clerk, who assured her that the dress had been washed impeccably with the most elaborate deposits.

Mina handed over a crystal currency card.

Gwen watched as his assistant tapped a card on a slate device.

Is this a wireless banking system? Is there a financial industry in a first-tier city? If so, how did it develop? If she could learn more about the ins and outs of the world's micro and macroeconomics, many of her old skills would eventually be able to find gainful employment.

"Is that card linked to the bank?" she asked Mina after the assistant left.

Mina is no longer surprised by Gwen's lack of common sense.

"Currency cards? They're standard questions. There are 10, 50 and 100 HDM companies that can issue higher cards upon request. You can convert them from the original HDM companies, which tend to have different purities. You're not using raw crystals, are you?"

"Uh......" Gwen could hear the clanging of the crystals in the ring.

"At the People's Bank of China for electromagnetic waves. There is one on the second floor. ”

"The People's Bank of China is..."

People's Bank of China, Shanghai. They issue currency cards, or you can get a headdress like mine, in harmony with your astral signature. However, to maintain a reasonable crystal and cost. ”

Ah, Gwen felt that her assumptions had terminated the pregnancy. A central banking system owned by state-owned institutions. No one dared to profit from this, except for the state itself.

"Okay, next!"

Mina put on her new clothes and felt much better. The trio visited a dozen more stores until Gwen saw a shoemaker shop that specialized in custom-made magic shoes.

"Do you want shoes?" Mina tilted her head. She had expected Gwen to choose a very expensive dress, and if her cousin in Sydney chose a gift without knowing the price, she was even prepared to spend half of her pocket money.

Gwen said to Mina, "I want a pair of booties. ”。 "Ideal leather shoes that don't wear out if I have to, say, sprint or skydive for landing. ”

"You don't have to buy a bargain here," Mina noted. ”。 "All the top brands will give more crystals an interior charm. ”

"Do you mind if I take a look?" Gwen asked. She didn't want Mina to give a punch full of HDM crystals as a gift. She had expected the price to be in RMB, or at least LDM, but in her old world, ultra-luxury was just as nasty.

"Go ahead. ”

They browsed through the store for a few minutes until Gwen picked out a pair of antique-looking hand-stitched tapered women's boots with thick leather trim. The fit is snug and the heels are neither too high nor too low, neither thick nor thin.

"What a good eye," the owner, who is also a clerk, said when Gwen tried it on. Canadian icefield cowhide, processed and matured three times, comfortable to wear, soft and durable

"How much?"

The old gentleman examined Gwen, and his eyes fell at her feet.

"Four HDM companies. ”

Gwen considered her previous market research and the price was fair.

"I need the stamina and impact of these enchantments. Also, do you think it's possible that I'm wearing these shoes right now will be captivated?"

Gwen pointed to her Mary Janice.

"Come, take them off. "Let me think about it. As Gwen took off her shoes, the old master handed her a pair of slippers. He quickly pre-tested the pair of Mary Janices and then studied them closely.

"Ordinary...... Honestly, it's not bad, but it's not worth glamorous. ”

"It's for emotional reasons," Gwen assured him.

The man shrugged. Business is business.

"Endurance, self-cleaning, what's more fun?"

"Only the first two. ”

"Three HDM companies, I'm going to add a small element resistance. ”

Gwen looked at Mina, who was sure that this was the current exchange rate.

"If I get them all right, it will be cheaper?"

Mina blushed.

The host smiled politely.

Oh. Gwen realized. This is one of those stores.

"How much is it in total? I'm sorry. ”

"Nine HDM companies, hoping to be repeat customers. The old man giggled. "I can do it right away, do you have about ten minutes?"

"Mina?"

"Of course, let's wait. ”

Next to them, Tao was trying to sleep on a leather couch for a while. Mina approached the counter to pay.

"No, I'll pay the bill. Gwen gestured with her hand on the counter, and eight HDM crystals appeared. "If you insist on paying for the boots, you can buy me four. ”

"Wow! Mina grabbed Gwen's hand.

When Mina's face suddenly contorted with surprise, Gwen flinched.

She took Gwen's hand and touched Gwen's ring with her fingers. Gwen felt a few particles of magic pass through her ring, and Mina looked up angrily.

"One...... A ring of the middle reserve?!and a ring of escape?!" Her face was a mask of bewilderment. "That's ......"

About 500-700 hard drives, Gwen thought to herself. She had been wearing the Opa gift for a long time and had forgotten how precious it was. She had become accustomed to its convenience, so she rarely thought about it.

Mina sat sullenly on Tao's figure-eight legs, forcing him to wake up, and moaning in pain, her hips rubbing against his kneecaps. "You can pay for your own shoes, Miss Richie. ”

Gwen smiled innocently at Mina and repaid the cobbler's service.

Little did Mina know that Gwen had less than 10 HDM companies and 100 from bankrupt LDM companies, or that Gwen's charismatic emergency ring had a market capitalization of more than 10,000 HDM companies. No, rings are exchangeable. Gwen cautioned herself against such thoughts. For her part, the precious life-saving ring still belonged to Gunther, who hoped to one day repay a generous loan that nothing more than gave her an elegant finger.

Aside from Gwen, Mina is annoyed by being overtaken by a country billy. When the novelty of the wound passed, she asked about Gwen's storage ring, asking her about the specifications, the price, who made it, and so on.

"Is your grandfather a magician?" Mina's eyes sparkled. "Oh, it's a pity he's in Sydney. Imagine how much discount we can get. Enchantment is expensive!"

A few minutes later, the shopkeeper walked out with Gwen's shoes. Gwen hid Mary Janice and put on her new calf boots.

"How does it look?"

"Looks good and ready to eat. Tao gave her two thumbs up.

“...”

"Momoko, shut up. Mina's lips smiled.

"Thanks, Peach," Gwen replied, what time is it?

"It was about 5 p.m. "Mina has a sparkling bracelet watch on her wrist.

"Shall we get over there?"

"Earlier?!!" Mina scoffed and feigned shock. "Never!"

Gwen smiled.

"I want to watch some of the games and get a feel for them. ”

"You're not going to participate, are you?" looked at him suspiciously. What can a hillbilly do to a first-level mage? Most of the junior mages on the border barely made it past the third tier with their terrible affinity.

"Ha......" Gwen turned away from the subject, and Mina chose not to pursue me assures you that my purpose is academics. ”

"Well, I guess, if you have to ......"

"Then let's go!"

"Wait! let me gather my crew!" Tao said.

Mina groaned, "Oh no, not those damn brains. ”。

"Hey, the crew who pooped together eats together!" Tao pulled out his slate device and quickly began to dial the zigzag.

"What the hell does that mean?!" Mina snapped to her brother. "Aha!

“...”

In addition to the comedians, Gwen also thought of the brick-sized information device in her storage ring. In an emergency, she may use it as a lethal stick weapon. Gwen needed to find a steady source of income as soon as possible. There are so many things to buy, and this list will only grow in the near future.

Tao complained around 7 p.m. that he was hungry, but Mina insisted that they eat at the rice restaurant on the Bund.

"Well, let me be the master, at least have a meal," Mina told Gwen as she prepared to change into her evening clothes. "The food there was surprisingly good and there was a restaurant with two hats on top. ”

A few minutes later, Gwen showed up with a garment she had bought in Singapore: a sky-blue blouse with a low-hanging American collar button, a tan saddle leather belt, and an off-white pleated high-waisted skirt that rose a few inches above her knees. It's a minimalist, but sophisticated allusion to flower girls and a bit of urban chic. Gwen's latest product is the durability-enhanced antique calf boot, which gives Mina an atmosphere that can only be described as "very cool". Gwen also planned a close-fitting vest, but the weather was too bad for the color-coordinated layers.

Mina pursed her lips, feeling overwhelmed. Her world has yet to rediscover the charm of retro, but the socialites in her instinctively approve of the rare aesthetic that Gwen has created with her eclectic arrangement. She kind of wanted to try on the outfit herself, but Gwen's outfit was mundane and she couldn't adjust the size on her own. Maybe in the near future, she could invite Gwen to visit her large walk-in closet.

Tao stared expertly. The skirt and boots naturally drew the eye to the bare skin of her legs.

Poor Tao. Gwen thought sympathetically. She knew he didn't mean it. That's the misfortune of his frog face.

"You're in terrible taste compared to Gwen, Shorty," Tao whispered to Mina, who made a terrible promise of retribution for her brother's unpopular criticism.

"Let's go. ”

The trio walked to the elevator, and the attendant took them to the ground floor. And then they left.

At first glance, the Bund's rice is a chic riverside café with imitation Victorian furniture. It has floor-to-ceiling windows next to each other for customers sitting indoors and for al fresco dining for those who prefer the open air. A series of cooling and heating glyphs temper the temperature, while magic magic ensures that lavender, bluebells, and other perennials bloom permanently.

However, its actual place of business is another matter entirely.

Mina tosses the key symbol on the car to a valet dressed in black, and a bodyguard escorts them to the kitchen, then diverts their itinerary through a series of underground passages until the sound of pumping music and bass reverb seeps into the reinforced concrete.

A heavy iron door opened, filling the hallway with lights and music.

It was only 8 p.m., but the bar was already full. The wealthy darlings of the metropolis gather in expensive suits and gowns to struggle with the vices that Sin City has brought to the upper classes. Most of these people are in their 20s, but there are also some who are abnormal, with shaggy breasts and open shirts, and look like peacocks with full bellies. Gwen noticed that Asians and Westerners were equally distributed here, which was in stark contrast to the city itself. This either means that not many young Asians have the money to party in such a place, or it is a place frequented by foreigners.

Women are a different matter entirely. Short skirts, tight skirts, and high heels are thin and high, which can be lethal weapons. Women's talents are far more valuable than men's, and Gwen immediately realizes an age-old trick of giving beautiful women exclusive privileges so that they can decorate the place and attract men who spend lavishly. Some of them, like herself and Mina, come here to experience the rice and enjoy the atmosphere, but Gwen can see dozens of girls, who are most likely the "Flowers of the Night"

Gwen is glad that she has chosen a completely different outfit from the current scene. Their skin sparkles, their skin is hugged, and she is easy-going and comfortable. Those who saw her immediately understood that Gwen was neither here to dance nor socialize.

Mina searches for her friends, but can't find them between the swaying body and the flickering lumen orb. However, Tao is immediately spotted by his friends, who start calling, calling, calling him.

After Mina's lovely eyes swirled in their sockets a few times, she finally relaxed and followed Tao in the direction of hope that she would be temporarily accompanied.

Meanwhile, when they reach Tao's "buddy", Gwen can't help but laugh.

They all wore the same style – a strange mix of hip-hop fashion from the late '90s to the mid-'10s. Interestingly, Gwen hears from Mina that the garments of those man-made ghettos are worth dozens of HDM companies, and ironically, they are made to resemble the fashions of America's impoverished, inner-city culture.

If nothing else, these are the people rich boys want to do anything to look like "ghettos," but she sees "individual collectivism" as the key to subcultural trends.

"Woooooo "Who's the new Gruul? She's Hult!

One of the young men tried to show an expression similar to that of a nap, but his well-groomed face, his soft and flawless skin, gave him the appearance of a gregar. Even to Gwen, it is obvious that when not channeling his "internal hooligans", "Boy B" is usually well-groomed.

"I'm Gwen Song," Gwen shouted to the music, affirming one of the reasons she had always hated clubs like this. For this reason, the lounge is much higher.

"Boy B" introduced himself. Eric, Lu, Ming, Daddy Mac, and the puppy.

"What's the last two names?" asked Wen puzzled.

"They're their artist names," Tao said proudly. "They're magicians just like me. ”

"You're a musician?!" Gwen asked, skeptically. "What are you playing?"

"I box!" Tao said triumphantly. "Peach Host Representative!"

"Like a bitch!" someone added.

"yes! a hot bitch!"

"Bring all the bitches!"

"Momoko brought all the bitches to the yard!"

What are you, a dog whisperer?, Gwen thought to herself, trying to accept the unwavering support of Tao's friends. She didn't know if they were laughing at him or trying to boost his confidence. Maybe they just like to say the word "bitch" because it rolls off their tongues? Maybe ghetto slang translates poorly into Chinese, especially when retranslated into English? She was surprised that her stone of understanding hadn't exploded yet.

“...”

Mina glared at Tao's friends with a look of complete disapproval on her face.

"I'm sorry, Miss Mina. "The guy named Daddy Mike apologized. "Slip of the tongue. ”

The puppy vacated a seat, and Papa McKe borrowed another one from a neighbor.

"Here you go, Miss Gwen, what would you like to drink? What soda, sweet? on the rocks?" I'll buy it," said the puppy.

"Peaches, get me a strawberry Daikyrie, buy Gwen a Virgin Mary or something, as long as it's a virgin. ”

The children grinned.

"You don't drink because?" Tao scratched his head.

"You're such an idiot, Peach," Mina snapped at him. "Gwen's underage. ”

The boys leave Gwen a little.

"What about you, Mina Gwen asked. Is Mina not yet eighteen?

"I'll be 18 in a few weeks," Mina retorted. "Besides, it's nothing to me. By the way, you idiots stay away from Gwen, she's an important guest. ”

"Impossible!" one of Tao's children groaned dramatically. "She's right there! she's stolen my heart!"

"It's only six years plus probation, Eric, your dad can pay, right? Maybe it's worth it?"

"Fuck off, idiot. Who do you think I am?"

The rest of the group laughed heartily and punched Eric with a grin.

"What's so funny?"

"At one point, Eric tried to date a nursing student, but didn't realize she was underage, took her to a hotel, and fled the scene when she confessed," the puppy teased helpfully.

"Shut up!" Eric tried to shut up his friends as the gang began to shove, giggling maniacally.

This is very different from Mina's friends, whose calm appearance stirs up an undercurrent of rivalry and jealousy. Instead, the boys and their interactions reminded Gwen of the likes of Razigins in New South Wales, Yatsco and Tacko.

Mina was grinning, too, but Gwen felt that she seemed to prefer her competitive, scheming atmosphere. She guessed that some people made a fortune off of it.

Both young men try to ask Gwen about her life in Sydney, but the overly loud music makes any meaningful conversation impossible. Momoko returns with a drink, and the two girls sip on a drink as the boys from across the ocean discuss the latest American hip-hop music.

"Must be a hipster. His rhyme is not good. ”

You have to understand that life is cruel. Only true survivors like Cuholio know that the streets are intimate enough to feel real. It's just a marketer who buzzes. All of his chambers are bitches and horseback. You know what I mean?"

"Of course, but how about the Lizzie Knight who sang the choir? she's like a Hugh! right? she's too heavy to eat it, God! like that time she went crazy in Lil Philip's plaster cast and her handbag......

Mina crossed her slender legs, cutting off the part of her brain that had to endure their conversation. She stared desolate through the crowd, not knowing where her friends were.

Similarly, Gwen can only accept the peaches' ghetto sermons about the latest rap trend in the United States. She is more interested in technology or geopolitical trends. In her old world, the beginning of the 21st century was a special period, the dawn of the information age, the beginning of metadata, which gave birth to the minotaur known as actuarial data analysis.

Despite Gwen's modest attire, half-drunk men and at least one woman came to her wondering if she had come to dance and wanted to join them on the dance floor for a vertical tango dance.

Gwen politely declined, and to her surprise, no one pursued the matter. This was unexpected given her past experiences in Sydney, and one day after a citywide crisis, she could even get into trouble in a canteen in a high-rise building.

Peach's friends ordered, and Gwen also participated in the dim Sims and other "authentic Shanghai street food" sold at the Bund Ground Store. The kitchen seems to serve both companies at the same time.

Around 10 p.m., the dance floor began to clear up. The music died out with a sudden thud, and the revellers found places to sit and stand around the club.

A middle-aged gentleman appeared at the rally in a loud waistcoat and introduced himself as the master of the game, Mags Gimonyu.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's contest, I hope you have had a wonderful month since our last contest, your money is full and your lucky stars are shining!"

Ewen wasn't tall or handsome, but his radio host's voice was deep, resonant, and smooth as butter.

"Tonight, Shanghai's smartest and best babes will face off against each other! The rules remain the same! Challenge each other! Settle grudges! Challenge the house-sponsored boxers! Make a name for yourself! And most importantly, bet your heart!"

The crowd cheered, echoing the enthusiasm shown by the bombastic mage, who took off an invisible hat and bowed deeply in response to their applause.

"Our waiter is about to come out to change the crystal chips! Don't forget, the hard drive management system should go home! Rice is not a charity! This game is a show of skill! A show of courage and tenacity! A show of mysterious power!"

A cage appears on the dance floor, then suddenly comes alive and then becomes transparent. From her master's past spells, Gwen believed that it was a power cage capable of negating most magical attacks below level 7. What a luxury, Gwen thought. How many crystals would it take to produce such an effect!

"Come on first! to whet your appetite, loosen your pockets, and give your women a week! I'm going to introduce our resident, Champion! Mags Canto from Indonesia!"